A barcode for each unique product variant

You need a unique barcode number for each different retail product and product variant.

• For 3 different products you need 3 barcodes.
• For 3 different products where each has 2 size variants, you will need 3 x 2 variants = 6 barcodes.
• For 3 different products where each has 2 size variants and 5 colour variants, you will need 3 x 2 variants x 5 variants = 30 barcodes.

You can then sell unlimited numbers of a unique product with a particular barcode on it.

 

For example, each of these variants of Tim’s Craft Beer requires a barcode:

• Tim’s Craft Beer Rangi flavour, 1000 ml, glass bottle.
• Tim’s Craft Beer Toto flavour, 1000 ml, can, red.
• Tim’s Craft Beer Toto flavour 1000 ml, can, blue.
• Box, 6x Tim’s Craft Beer, Toto flavour, 750 ml, can, blue (packaging of bulk items itself needs a barcode)

 

It adds up

This can add up to many barcodes for a single product. For example.

• 2 products requires 2 barcodes.
• 2 products with 3 colour variants requires 2 x 3 variants = 6 barcodes.
• 2 products with 3 colour variants and 4 size variants requires 2 x 3 variants x 4 variants = 24 barcodes.

 

Product variants by price differentiation

It’s imperative to get a different barcode for each product when the price is different.

If the price is the same (across all the product variations), then you might get away with using the same barcode number on all the product variations. This depends on which retail stores you are selling your products in.

The larger retail stores might require a different barcode for each product variation (especially if they do stocktake automatically, instead of manually).